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It is surprising that a human rights lawyer does not recognise genocide.
Organisations and academics who have used the term “genocide” include:
✅South Africa: in the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023
✅United Nations Expert Francesca Albanese, in a report titled “Anatomy of a Genocide”
✅Human Rights Organisations
— Amnesty International
— Human Rights Watch
— Israeli-Palestinian human rights group B’Tselem
✅Omer Bartov: A professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University
✅Raz Segal: An Israeli historian and professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University
✅Amos Goldberg: A Holocaust scholar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
✅Nitzan Lebovic: The Chair of Holocaust Studies and Ethical Values at Lehigh University
✅Ilan Pappé: An Israeli historian and political scientist
✅Avi Shlaim: professor emeritus of international relations at Oxford University
✅Marianne Hirsch and Michael Rothberg: leading scholars in the field of Holocaust and genocide studies
✅Israeli author David Grossman
✅Alexei Sayle
✅Michael Rosen
✅Miriam Margolyes
✅Peter Kosminsky
✅Mike Leigh
✅Cynthia Nixon
✅David Grossman
Thank you
The abuse of language here is knowing and unforgiveable.
Richard, in the spirit of your understandable moderation policy, I have used my usual email address (the previous one was associated with it anyway by the Hide My Email function on my Mac). However, regarding this statement from Starmer, I am filled with despair. Starmer is an intelligent man and he knows exactly what message he is conveying. To describe his response as mealy mouthed would be a gross understatement. It is tantamount to giving the green light to this invasion. It would be so easy to stop supplying all and any weapons ( and parts) immediately but yet he does not do so. Also, as a lawyer he must know that the weight of legal opinion is firmly on the side of describing the Israeli action as genocide. His failure to call it out for what it is borders on collusion. The argument some use, that is that it can’t be called a genocide until a court has ruled on this issue, is ridiculous. As DPP he will have been used to alleging that, for example, someone’s conduct may have amounted to fraud and lay the evidence out before the jury for them to decide. That is what happens in every trial. So why can he not accuse the Israeli government of genocide and then leave it to them to produce the evidence and argument to prove that it was not so. He is, legally speaking, putting the cart before the horse. The real question is: why?
He is a Zionist. That is it.
Agreed. It is the only credible answer.
> Zionist – A person who supports the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their historic homeland, and typically supports the existence and security of the State of Israel.
That’s the definition. So what is your problem with Zionists, given you are using it as a slur?
Do Jews not have the right to self determination in their own ancestral homeland?
Not once have I ever said that Israel should not exist. Please do not in any way put words into my mouth. And nor have I ever said that now Israel exists there should be any change to its right to do so. Again, do not put words into my mouth. But, Israel, and the zionists within it, have sought to expand its boundaries illegally from 1967 onwards. That is a straightforward statement of fact, and this process is still going on in Gaza, the West Bank and now most likely elsewhere. I do not challenge the right of Israel too exist. I do challenge it right to undertake illegal warfare to expand its borders, which is what modern Zionism supports, and which I condemn. As is so commonly the case with people who turn up here, you make up a completely false set of assumptions and claims and use them in an attempt to justify an argument which they cannot support if the facts are considered.
> Zionist – A person who supports the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their historic homeland, and typically supports the existence and security of the State of Israel.
That’s the definition. So what is your problem with Zionists, given you are using it as a slur?
Do Jews not have the right to self determination in their own ancestral homeland?
In response to Ben-E – the state of Israel has in its constitution the requirement that there be a majority of jews. Criticisms of the state of Israel has been that non-jews are 2nd class citizens, and that it is de jure, an apartheid state. Bolt on to this the fact that the state was founded by a bunch of (jewish) terrorists, that the territory of Israel (now) was not “terra nullis” and we are in …..well you tell me because none of this looks good. Furthermore, the “facts on the ground” have change greatly since 1948 & then the 6 day war, mostly because of vast immigration into Israel from states where jews are greatly persecuted, such as the United States (that was irony btw – just in case you did not get it) & much of this directed into the West Bank. Given all this it would seem that a zionist is:
a) a racist (ref how no-jews are treated in Israel),
b) the definition of the territory of Israel would seem to be “flexible” -bits of Syria, soon Gaza, soon the West Bank, soon bits of Lebanon – where does it all stop? Does it?
& lastly but not leastly: “the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their historic homeland” – care to expand on that? & when does jewish “self determination” mean that other people suddenly don’t have it? Because this all seems to be a case of “might is right” & thus “Zionist might is right”.
Ben E
“Do Jews not have the right to self determination in their own ancestral homeland? ” There are numerous people around the world who do not have that right. I do, however, fully accept that all people should have the right to self determination. That includes the Palestinians. Why does the Zionist Israeli government deny them that right?
They (LINO gov) do not want to admit it is a genocide because to do so would mean that they are personally responsible for aiding & abetting genocide – whilst knowing exactly what was happening. I posted on a relate blog: British Army training senior IDF officers in 2024 who will be involved in genocide. LINO will do anything to avoid using the “G” word.
Richard is in danger of becoming a quaker terrorist.
Early Quakers spent a lot of time in prison.
Doing porridge?!
Sorry ..
Haha
The Quaker brand had nothing to do with Quakers by the way – they nicked the name as they thought people trusted it
Apologies for posting twice but it is relevant: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/08/gaza-death-toll-higher
extract: “Writing in the Guardian in September 2024, Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, noted that the Lancet estimates were “very conservative” and extrapolated the methodology to estimate about 335,500 deaths in total by the end of 2024. We are now, of course, inching towards the end of 2025.”
Death @ end of 2025? givne the 2024 numberr does 400,000 dead? 20% (ish) of the Gazan population look possible? through a combo of Israeli bullets, shells and starvation. But Starmer (a zionist) does not want to call it what it is.
” Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza” says Starmer.
But Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir can.
At what point does the right, under international law, to resist illegal occupation by the use of force become terrorism? I must have missed the debate in the UK.
At what point does the abuse and humiliation of a subjugated population by an occupying power become terrorism? I must have missed the debate in the UK.
So, killing children is ‘OK’ but asking that you don’t kill children is not OK? Agitating for peace makes you a terrorist, apparently. I know that this is not a new or original message nor thought, but it needs repeating.
Current lead headline on BBC news app follows a similar line
‘Where should we go?’ Gaza City residents fear destruction and displacement over Israel’s takeover plan’
‘Displacement’…… ‘takeover plan’ Shameful. Headline and words carefully chosen and will have been editorially approved to fit the frame.
Where is the UN?
1984 wasn’t written as an instruction manual.
But some would like you to think that it was.
Oh a word limit counter, I like this.
What I can’t understand is, if you’re so dead set on not upsetting Israel’s fanatical government, why not simply condemn Israel’s actions as escalatory and re-affirm the need for peace? No-one can disagree with that and you’re not picking sides. It’s like someone is purposefully trying to sow dissent through the government.
I am bemused.
You think I have not done that?
10 questions rarely if ever answered by supporters of Israel’s current gov’t.
1. What are the internationally recognised borders of Israel? (Please provide an internationally recognised map)
2. How long has the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and E Jerusalem lasted?
3. Ditto for the Golan Heights.
4. Ditto for more recent occupation of Syria?
5. Do Palestinians have an internationally recognised right of self-determination?
6. Do occupied peoples have an internationally recognised right to forcefully resist occupation?
7. Do Palestinians have an internationally recognised right to both forcefully resist occupation, and an internationally recognised right of self-defence?
8. Is the modern state of Israel, created by international agreement, bound by international law?
9. What do you understand by the term “rogue state” and how should they be deat with by the international community?
10. What will happen to Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife when he is no longer Prime Minister?
Thanks
These will be on the blog soon.
In 2014, Starmer was part of the team of prosecution lawyers at The Hague, accusing Serbia of genocide. In 1991, the Serbs bombed the town of Vukovar indiscriminately; forcibly drove out the Croat population and executed more than 200 POWs seeking refuge in a hospital. The case was ultimately dismissed, but gave rise to the term “ethnic cleansing”. I defy anyone to claim that Starmer does not know the Israelis are committing genocide in Gaza. He knows that better than most. He chooses not to say so.
In 2008 the Israeli MOD produced the paper “Food Consumption in the Gaza Strip – Red Lines”. It was a meticulously researched analysis of the number of calories required to keep Palestinians fed; just enough to stop them falling into malnutrition. Israel’s blockade of Gaza gave them complete control over every item entering and leaving Gaza. The Israeli Government said the paper was only a draft. Not true.
In October 2023, Yoav Gallant announced that Gaza would be put under siege. Not one bit of food, drop of water, spark of power or box of medical aid would enter Gaza. That was, and remains, a war crime. President Herzog announced that “It is a whole nation that is responsible” Since then, the IDF has committed war crime after war crime; regularly uploading videos and selfies of themselves doing so. The Israeli Government announces its intention to commit war crimes and ethnic cleansing; Starmer chooses not to admit that he has heard. Every organisation with any credibility has called it a genocide. Jewish organisations and individuals call it genocide. The Israeli press calls it genocide. Israelis call it genocide.
Yet Starmer cannot. As Richard says, it is not a humanitarian crisis – it the deliberate starvation and massacre of a whole people. The unbelievable cruelty is almost impossible to watch, yet we must – or it will go unremarked and unpunished.
“But Hamas….” has never been a justification for the barbarity of the the IDF, pushed on by Netanyahu. Once the armed forces of a supposedly democratic country cease to act in accordance with the rules of war, international law and most importantly, the Geneva Conventions, and descend to the same level of barbarity as the terrorists they are fighting, they become terrorists themselves.
Starmer’s weakness is disgusting.
Starmer (Like Lammy) is just a sock puppet programmed by the British establishment, itself entwined with the Zionist lobby. He near chokes when truth speaking is called for.
Crispin Flintoff recently noted how Starmer struggles, with halting breath, when he attempts some rebuke to Israel. Here’s the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFlbMyQN9Ys
Humanitarian Crisis? Leaked Israeli government papers by Israel’s Channel 13 last Wednesday indicate Netanyahu decided at the start of March to deny any ceasefire and strangulate entry off humanitarian aid, until the deathtrap GHF aid points, were initiated late May (1% of the previous 400 UNRWA distribution points). This is, indeed, starvation by the occupying power, not simply some ‘sent by God’ humanitarian crisis, and its scale now means it is genocidal starvation.
https://mondoweiss.net/2025/08/leaked-cabinet-minutes-reveal-israel-chose-to-starve-gaza-as-a-strategy-of-war/
Latest IPC alert*, suggests 30% of children are suffering from acute malnutrition, which has greatly accelerated since June. Prognosis is dire. The scale of starvation means it is genocidal in nature, which gives rise to an enduring humanitarian crisis. In sum therefore, Gaza is a threat to ‘peace and security’ as implied under Chapter VII of the UN Charter as well as totally at odds with the fourth Geneva Convention.
* https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-133/en/
In 1956, UNSC Hammarskjöld used the ‘Uniting for Peace’ procedure with the UNGA, to by-pass the block at the UNSC and so get a resolution during the Suez Crisis to enable the first UN peacekeeping mission. May be the UNSG may be intimidated by the damage the US could do to UN by withdrawal of funds. Certainly, more could be said and attempted by the UK’s presence on the UNSC, which. Has been lacklustre. A UNGA resolution, via ‘Uniting for Peace’ only needs a two thirds majority to have some force. Unfortunately, the US is such a disruptive force now in the world order.
[…] ten questions needing answers from UK politicians were posted as a comment on the blog overnight by RobertJ. I think they are far too relevant not to post here. If there are […]
In Starmer’s I see no mention of hostages held by Israel. Are there none?
I see no recognition of Hamas’ role in civil administration in Gaza. I don’t know how Hamas’ military mindset can be overcome, but any such change certainly won’t be helped by Netanyahu or by Starmer, neither of whom has the unquestioning support of their people.
I have read the letter several times. Where to start? Mealy mouthed doesn’t cover it, as another commentator says. It is contradictory, calling for negotiations between ‘the two sides’ – starving people who have lived in a concentration camp for decades, subject recently to genocide, need the international community to protect and feed them, not be asked to dust themselves off and negotiate with war criminals. ‘Humanitarian crisis’ ( applied to the Palestinians, s/be described as genocide, as RJM posts) is contrasted with ‘appalling and inhuman conditions’ (hostages). Many comprehensive comments above, Robert J’s questions very acute and apt. Appalling, harmful and lily-livered.
Apologies for posting 2nd time.
Declassified has an excellent post: ’70 Qs the Government must answer about Gaza’
https://www.declassifieduk.org/70-questions-the-uk-government-must-answer-about-gaza/
Have followed the Palestine situation since 1980s when I worked many years across the ME. ‘Till last year I used to think a 2-state solution still possible despite all I’ve learned. But the Zionist influence, I now believe, is extreme poison. Israel = Zionist settler-colonialism, racist apartheid. It is an expansionist, ethnic-cleansing project. Mossad has coldly assassinated circa 2,500 Palestinians since 1948. Besides insidious links between MI6 and Mossad, Zionist influence has grown enormously in the UK in the last 50yrs, as per the US.
The Israeli economist Shir Hever this week cited recent polling of Israelis: 40% felt the IDF should follow ‘biblical’ Amalek extermination of the entire Gazan population; some 80% want to permanently expel Palestinians from Gaza, while some 60% want all Palestinians within Israel (ie. 22% of population) to have their citizenship revoked and be expelled. The film ISRAELISM (See Youtube) made by Jewish activists, helps one grasp why Israelis are now sociopathic. Hence, their genocidal intent and starvation. Note the ‘client’ of GHF is the IDF.
Globally, Israel is now seen a pariah state. BDS is taking off, notably now divestment impacting. From many books re Palestine I have, if I had to recommend just one, it’s my latest; a veritable one stop overview by the highly informed Jacques Baud (He includes an appendix with 92 UN resolutions condemning Israel):
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209593365-operation-al-aqsa-flood
Thank you. Appreciated.
read ‘Declassified’ of 5 June 2024 – John McEvoy – full list of British MPs who received funding from pro-Israel lobbyists. Possibly/probably more since the election – there exists ‘Labour Friends of Israel’ and ‘Conservative Friends of Israel’ and possibly other groups – then this is the USA — Trump wants Gaza.